Open-Plan Occupancy Layout for Bio-Safe Space and HVAC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building management systems face challenges in maximizing space utilization while ensuring bio-safety and energy efficiency, particularly in post-pandemic scenarios where social distancing and reduced occupancy are necessary, and existing approaches often fail to optimize space use and energy consumption effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that dynamically segment open-plan spaces into infected and uninfected cells using thermodynamics and viral propagation models to determine maximum allowable occupants based on infection probability, exposure, and viral particle concentration, while optimizing HVAC energy consumption through joint actuator control techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If social distancing and reduced occupancy are implemented to ensure bio-safety, then infection risk is reduced, but space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the building space into a grid of cells and uses dynamic occupancy placement to determine which cells can be occupied while maintaining social distancing. This segmentation allows for optimized space utilization by precisely controlling occupancy distribution rather than uniformly reducing occupancy across the entire building.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts occupancy placement based on real-time thermal signals, viral propagation models, and environmental conditions. The occupancy configuration changes over time to optimize both bio-safety and space utilization, rather than using static social distancing rules.
2Productivity
If maximum occupancy is allowed to maximize space utilization, then space efficiency improves, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors thermal signals from occupants and environmental conditions, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust occupancy placement decisions. The viral propagation model uses real-time data to predict infection risk and optimize occupancy configuration accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as occupancy placement, HVAC settings, and ventilation rates to optimize the balance between space utilization and infection risk. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on environmental conditions, the system maximizes space use while maintaining bio-safety.
3Reliability
If frequent disinfection and HVAC operation are increased to improve bio-safety, then infection control improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts HVAC operation and ventilation rates based on real-time occupancy placement and environmental conditions. Rather than maintaining constant high-level HVAC operation, the system optimizes energy consumption by adjusting settings according to actual occupancy and thermal conditions while maintaining bio-safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes HVAC operational parameters such as temperature setpoints, ventilation rates, and actuator positions to optimize the balance between bio-safety and energy consumption. These parameter adjustments are made dynamically based on occupancy placement and environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for increased space utilization while maintaining low-risk bio-safety and significant energy savings by optimizing occupant placement and HVAC energy usage, balancing thermal comfort and infection risk.
Implementation Method 1
dynamically receiving, using a thermodynamics model, a plurality of thermal signals using plurality of sensors positioned in the building
Implementation Method 2
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) controller for the building
Implementation Method 3
a cooling load of each actuator computed using a mass flow rate of the corresponding actuators, an enthalpy of actuator supply, and return air
Implementation Method 4
an estimated amount of viral particles concentration shed by a plurality of infected subjects at one or more of equally spaced cells
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates generally to method and system for maximizing space utilization in a building. Due to current pandemic scenario many organizations eventually need to plan for the return of employees to office space ensuring biosafety. The challenge of maximizing the office space utilization ensuring occupants biosafety and comfort thereby minimizing HVAC energy consumption is necessary. The method utilizes two heuristic approaches for determining maximum allowable occupants placement in the open plan space using an optimal occupant placement technique. This minimizes the HVAC energy if the actual count is lesser than the possible maximum occupants can be placed which further optimizes energy using a joint actuator control technique. Additionally, the proposed two heuristic approaches improve space utilization for the infection rate ensuring bio safety. Full utilization of open plan space is possible when the community infection rate and exposure duration are relatively low resulting low risk probability for uninfected occupants.